So tempting....

[foothead]

I am now considering doing some sort of crossfire setup instead of buying 4850 x2. I was looking on newegg and found a sapphire 4870 for $117. It is open bow though. Is there anything I would absolutely NEED besides the card? And how much better would it perform? I noticed the memory clock is only 900 MHz.
here is a link to the non-open-box one. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814102801 I didn't feel like finding the open-box one right now.

EDIT: Meh, it sold out in the last 20 minutes. O well.

 

[worshipme]

There are new HD 4870s available for $125 and $115 after rebate.

I suppose it depends at what resolution you play at. I think an HD 4870 X2 is only justifiable at 2560x1600.

 

[foothead]

dude, link please...

 

[Holysky]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010380048%20106792627%201067940678&name=Radeon%20HD%204870

 

[GibsonSGKing]

I say you get the x2, and then later you can crossfire those!

 

[foothead]

But the 4870 x2 only has 2 DVI ports
I need all four on the 4850 x2, and even then i will be in need of 2 more.

If i have multiple monitors, doesn't that just defeat the prupose of crossfire, as they will act as separate GPU's?
Those 4870's are meh. I think i will need the 1gb models at 2x 1920x1200/card.

 

[Russel1]

But the 4870 x2 only has 2 DVI ports
I need all four on the 4850 x2, and even then i will be in need of 2 more.

If i have multiple monitors, doesn't that just defeat the prupose of crossfire, as they will act as separate GPU's?
Those 4870's are meh. I think i will need the 1gb models at 2x 1920x1200/card.

When you crossfire two 4870s, I don't think you can use all four DVI ports. I'm not sure, but I think you can only use 2 of the four ports with crossfire. If you are using two cards with 4870s and crossfire is off, then I think you can use all four ports.

 

[worshipme]

You're running six monitors?

 

[foothead]

^ 4.
Plus i will output to my projector nd the TV in the next room.

OK, the 4870x2 is out of the question right now. I cannot afford 2 of them.
Would I be able to get the 4850 x2 and crossfire it with a single 4850?

 

[worshipme]

I am not 100% sure, and I would recommend contacting AMD, but I do not think that you can run more than two monitors with Crossfire enabled. Just phone them, you'll get a quicker answer.